In response to Alexa’s beautiful message below, I’ve included these flower photos dedicated to her, a long-time blog reader. I appreciate it so much; she got me sniffling.

Not that it was raining, windy, cold, and icy today, but I didn’t go outside with Zap. Instead, I decided to give my Iphone 15 Pro Max a moment in the light; this was the camera that started it all. These are all Iphone 15 photos; I call them Photo Paintings because of the texture.

Daffodils in our side gardens, subtle shades of yellow.
Even on overcast days, they resemble a spot of sunshine. On sunny days, they almost glow with vibrant color. When the sunlight hits them just right in the afternoon, they seem illuminated from within. Each time I look out the window, my heart smiles. I bring a few inside to enjoy their scent. After about three days, I remove the water. Before placing them back in the now-empty vase, I cut the stems so the flower heads rest just above the lip of the vase, preventing them from dropping while drying. When dried, they retain their color with minimal fading. They become like paper flowers, bringing sunshine and joy to my spirit. I have been doing this for several years now. I noticed a couple of dandelions today and adore the deep richness of their yellow color. Once abundant, they have become rare. It’s sad for me. Will there be no more small jars filled with them, often brought in as a gift from a young child?
Jon, I particularly love your flower photographs for many reasons, but also because through your eyes, I can see the beauty despite failing eyesight. I can no longer use my camera to view the world. The videos and photos that you and Maria shared provided a space of sanity, joy, and peace to my mind and heart.♥️ – Alexa

Heavenly curl.

Guts of a flower.

Heart and soul.

Heart of a flower.

Purple light.

Will you marry me?